For manuscripts 
can be used efficiently to write, store in versions, and track changes when coordinating work between multiple authors.
If you're looking for information on putting in your wiki page, see Docs/WikiQuickReference.
Getting started
MikTeX (windows)
http://www.tug.org/texlive (Unix-like OS)
For example from the terminal in Ubuntu,
$> sudo apt-get install texlive-full meld kile jabref
Will install EVERYTHING necessary for latex and more. There are a number of languages that you will unlikely use, however this can be easier than installing the individual components. More information can be found here if you are interested. The above line also installs the editor Kile, the diff application Meld and the bibtex management tool JabRef.
Editing
Some of the more popular editors are:
Kile (GNU-Linux only)
Texmaker (All platforms)
TeXnicCenter (windows only)
Many editors have auto-complete functions plus buttons to convert to *.pdf, *.ps and .*html and loads of other functions. If you are looking for a latex to HTML converter -- a simple and easy to use choice is tth
Setting up version control
Subversion http://subversion.tigris.org/ Subversion can be used to set up a repository for a manuscript. The important files to add are the *.tex and *.bib files. Under the Ubuntu envrionment after asking you admin to create a repository. Note that the address below is for example purposes only.
$> sudo apt-get install subversion $> svn co https://projects.dbbe.musc.edu/my_netID/my_repo_name $> cd my_repo_name
Then after moving you document into the repository.
$> svn add nature_manuscript.tex $> svn add nature_manuscript.bib $> svn commit
More on version control
RapidSVN (installed in example above) is useful for the management of subversion repositories. If you are interested in a GUI version then try tortoisesvn. There is another page documenting further SVN. A number of tools are available examine differences between documents. Here are some examples.
Templates
thesis/dissertation template (by Chris Swearingen)
FAQs
In the TeX document, can I make track changes like in a MS word document?
Yes and No. The versions of the document are controlled by SVN so if changes are made they may be visualized using the diff command. However, since a pdf is binary -- version differences cannot be viewed there. If you wish to make colored changes that are visible in the pdf add the following lines to your preamble. This add the following capabilities: comments, deletions, and additions.
\usepackage{color,ulem}
\newcommand{\add}{\textcolor {red}}
\newcommand{\remove}{\sout}
\newcommand{\comment}{\textcolor{blue}{\textbf{Comment: }}\textcolor{blue} }Can I convert the TeX to a word document?
You can convert it to a *.rtf document. This is done by first installing the program latex2rtf which can be called from a Shell. If you want a button in Kile then go to Tools -- Configure Kile -- Tools -- Build -- General -- New Tool. Under command put latex2rtf and under options put '%source'. You can then click on Tools -- Configure Toolbars to add the button. Please note that this does not always work perfectly and it may be in your best interest to use the arguments explained in the man page.
What if I want to view the differences between any two versions quickly from the command line?
svn diff --diff-cmd meld --revision 95:99 mydocument.tex
Then to enable word wrapping, syntax highlighting and or line numbers go to preferences and make the appropriate selection(s).
Note that this requires the installation of meld (which can be installed with yum or apt-get)
What if I want to download an old version of a file to just have a look?
svn cat -r 189 mydocument.tex svn cat -r 189 mydocument.tex > mydocument_189.tex
Where the first line would show the source in the window and the second would redirect it to a new file with specified name
Other Questions?? Email richa[at]musc[dot]edu